Poll: NC Residents OK With Sportsbooks, But Not Predictions

A recent Meredith College Poll revealed some intriguing findings from the Tar Heel State.

The college conducted a poll in early July to see how North Carolina registered voters felt about legal sports betting. It found that 51% are happy with how the state has been regulating sports betting. Only 11% reported being dissatisfied, while 38% were unsure.

North Carolina voters were far less supportive of prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket. A whopping 67% of respondents signaled they support a ban on the industry.

Meredith College contacted 1,022 registered voters in North Carolina from July 1-8 when conducting the poll.

Support for Problem Gambling Research

While over half of respondents were happy with North Carolina’s level of regulation, they still had concerns over the impact of sports betting. One of the biggest involves problem gambling and the impact it has been having on families across the state. 

Despite the concerns, the poll found that 55% of respondents were satisfied with the current funding for gambling addiction and treatment. However, 75% said they would support setting aside tax revenue from sports betting to fund problem gambling research.

Concerns Over Underage Bettors, College Athletes

When conducting the poll, Meredith College identified two key demographics that North Carolina voters are especially concerned about.

The first involves college athletes and how they are being impacted by sports betting. The NCAA has shared a disturbing spike in the abuse of athletes from angry bettors, especially on social media. There is also an increased temptation for athletes to bet on sports, which is made worse by the industry’s popularity. 

The poll found the following regarding concerns over college athletes:

• 19% Very Concerned 
• 31% Somewhat concerned
• 20% Somewhat unconcerned
• 16% Very unconcerned
• 13% Don’t Know

The second group of respondents who were concerned were underage bettors, who are younger than 21, the minimum age in North Carolina. However, sports prediction markets only require customers to be 18+, meaning those between the ages of 18 and 20 have a way to legally bet on sports.

Below are the poll results showing how respondents felt about underage gambling:

• 29% Very concerned
• 29% Somewhat concerned
• 17% Somewhat  concerned
• 15% Very unconcerned
• 10% Don’t know

Residents Unfamiliar With Prediction Markets

Meredith College asked respondents about their familiarity with prediction markets, and found it was fairly low. Only 15% were very familiar, while 38% were only somewhat familiar and 47% were unfamiliar. 

The good news for the prediction industry is that the lack of familiarity could explain support for the ban. That may have already begun to change in North Carolina, given the heavy advertising Polymarket and Kalshi did during the 2026 World Cup. With a tax hike coming for regulated sportsbooks, more bettors could decide to give prediction markets closer consideration.

The bad news is that the industry’s success over the last year hasn’t delivered the awareness it had hoped. While the volume seen by operators continues to spike, the North Carolina poll shows that many people remain wary and largely unfamiliar with the industry. While time could change that, it seems the industry’s best efforts may not be enough to win over the public.